This month’s Economic Confidence Meter pulled back somewhat from last month’s highs on every front—perhaps the result of the reality of the aftermath of the Iraq war setting in. CIOs’ confidence in the chances for a recovery in the overall economy in the next three months fell three tenths of a point, to 5.5 from 5.8 on a scale of 1 to 10, while confidence in the chances of a recovery in their own industry categories fell to 5.6 from 5.8, and their outlook for their own companies dropped to 6.2 from 6.4. Among industry sectors, consulting/professional services, which rose 1.4 points, to 6.6, last month, fell back to 6.0; healthcare also retreated, to 5.1 from 5.6, as did telecom, which came in at 5.4, down from a longtime high of 6.0.
